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Betelgeuse had convinced him to let her visit the twins after they had come back from Egypt. September was nearing, and the girl wanted to spend some time with her best friends before school.
Betelgeuse had filled her time at the Borrow talking with Ginny and Arthur. The man had been ecstatic when she had told him she had been venturing in Muggle London during the first month of summer. On the other hand, the news of her uncle's escape had rendered the balding redheaded man even more careful around Betelgeuse. This change in his behaviour had irked the Black.
Molly had tried to use Betelgeuse's academic achievements to convince the twins to study and do their homework. It was a lost cause.
They had filled their time playing Quidditch with Betelgeuse and Ginny and creating new joke products. But it was clear that their favourite occupation was pranking Percy. Betelgeuse found hilarious the rage outbursts of the older Weasley. He was all bark, no bite.
Betelgeuse had even received two presents from the twins. They had gifted her a glass jar full of enchanted Egyptian sand. It was a sweet gift, but Fred had surprised her with another present. A gold pendant with a peculiar shape had glistened before her eyes. It had a cross silhouette but with a teardrop-shaped loop in place of an upper bar. Fred had told her he had found the exquisite trinket in a pyramid they had visited; the pendant was the Ankh symbol, an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic figure representing life itself.
Betelgeuse had stared unblinkingly at the elegant jewellery for a time that Fred had defined eternal, then she had leapt into his arms, surprising the auburn-haired boy.
On her last day with the family, Betelgeuse found herself reading The Daily Prophet after lunch.
[...] Sirius Black, possibly the most infamous prisoner ever to be held in Azkaban fortress, is still eluding capture, the Ministry of Magic confirmed today.
"We are doing all we can to recapture Black," said the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, this morning, "and we beg the magical community to remain calm."
Fudge has been criticised by some members of the International Confederation of Wizards for informing the Muggle Prime Minister of the crisis. [...]
Betelgeuse coarsely snorted, shaking her head.
Fudge, old fool. The quality of this newspaper is abating by the day.
Fred looked over his best friends, exchanging an uneasy look with his twin. "So, Bel," he clapped his hand, gaining a raised eyebrow from the girl, "How has been your summer? Any news?"
George snorted beside him, "Smooth, brother. Really smooth."
Betelgeuse felt her lip curl, looking at the boys over the newspaper, "It was uneventful, Fred," she replied, folding the paper, "But, if you are inquiring about my uncle, the mass murderer, being out and about, yes." she added, with a bored tone. "That did cause quite a conundrum in my household." The twins snorted at her indolent tone, but they could see a shadow had settled deep inside her steel-grey eyes.
"Ah! I think I pulled a muscle," Fred suddenly cried as he was putting the dishes away in the kitchen. The twins had pulled yet another prank on Percy, but this time they had been caught by Molly. She had grounded them, having Fred and George do the dishes after lunch.
The Black was grateful for Fred's sudden change of topic. The twins really knew how to cheer her up, but Betelgeuse could not miss such an opportunity to tease him. "You cannot pull what you do not have, Frederick," Betelgeuse quipped cooly from the orangey sofa in the living room. She received an annoyed look from the boy as the room exploded with laughter; even Molly chuckled quietly.
"Tomorrow we'll stay at The Leaky Cauldron, from there we'll go to King's Cross. I want you boys on your best behaviour!" Molly ordered, eyeing the twins accusingly.
"What do you take us for, woman?" Fred replied with an outraged tone.
"Wild baboons?" George added, putting a hand on his heart. Molly did not look impressed. Shaking her head, she began to fuss at Ron, embarrassing the younger boy.
"You are two wild baboons," Betelgeuse said quietly to the twins.
"You love us, Bel," Fred replied, throwing an arm around her shoulder.
"Most ardently," Betelgeuse replied, scoffing.
The three best friends were interrupted by Arthur, "Children! Letters from school," he said, handing them three envelopes of yellowish parchment. Betelgeuse opened hers as she sat on Fred's knees on the squishy sofa. The boy did not even protest to his twin's great amusement.
They had to buy new books this year, like The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 by Miranda Goshawk, The Monster Book of Monsters, and a new book for their DADA class. They were just three new books, but that was not heartening at all. Betelgeuse knew that the fifth year was essential. They would sit their O.W.L. exams, which would determine what N.E.W.T. courses they would be allowed to take later in their education. O.W.L.s also defined what job opportunities they could pursue in the future. Betelgeuse was aware that they would receive career counselling from their Heads of House. Professor McGonagall would advise what N.E.W.T.-level classes they should take to qualify for their desired career. The amount of homework for each course was also increased drastically, and Betelgeuse was sure she would spend much of the year studying.
Something shiny in the envelope caught her attention; reaching with her hand inside, Betelgeuse stared at the shield-shaped object.
"Blimey!" George exclaimed beside her.
"What? What?" Fred asked, trying to look over her shoulder.
"They made Bel Prefect!" George replied, taking the badge from her grasp.
"Bloody hell," Fred whispered, hugging her from behind.
"Oh, Betelgeuse, dear! Congratulation!" Molly complimented the girl from the kitchen.
"Do you know what this is mean?" Fred asked with a mischievous tone. Betelgeuse frowned. She could not think of anything besides more work for her, nothing that could justify the devilishly accomplished look in the twins' eyes.
"That now we have someone that can cover for us. You, my dear Lady Black, will be the key to our success!" Fred said with intent.
Betelgeuse was about to reply when Molly abruptly came barrelling from the kitchen, "She will not do such a thing!" She yelled to the twins, "She will give you detention every time she will deem it necessary! Won't you, Betelgeuse?" The older woman asked, planting her closed fists on her hips.
"Of course, I will, Molly," the Black drawled back, concealing a smirk. Molly observed the girl for a whole minute, nodded to herself and marched back to the kitchen.
"Ruffian," George muttered to Betelgeuse.
"Shut up, George," she replied, getting on her feet, "Your mother talked about giving you detention every time I will deem it necessary. The fact is that I am part of your plans almost all the time. Do you really think I will give myself detention?" Fred and George exchanged a look, then turned to the Black with identical grins on their freckled faces.
"And do not dare to bewitch my badge," Betelgeuse threatened.
"Bewitched badge—?"
"—now that sounds like a terrific idea!"
☆☆☆
The next morning, after the usual chaotic atmosphere in the Weasleys household, the large group found their place in the pub. Betelgeuse had to fight with Molly to pay for her room. In the end, the well-groomed method of persuasion of the Blacks won.
The twins and Betelgeuse had followed Molly, Percy, and Ginny to Diagon Alley to purchase their new school equipment, and now they were heading back to the dingy pub.
"You know, Ron said Harry's staying too," Fred spoke, taking the bags from Betelgeuse's grasp. The girl paused, should not he be with the Dursleys? Seeing her perplexed expression, George added, "He blew up his aunt and ran away."
"He did what?" Betelgeuse asked with puzzlement.
"He blew up his aunt and ran away," Fred repeated. Before she could reply, Betelgeuse saw the raven-haired boy walk towards The Leaky Cauldron.
"Potter!" Betelgeuse exclaimed, smiling at the younger Gryffindor.
"Bel," Harry smiled back, "Petunia and Vernon send their thanks for the basting music," he added cheekily. Betelgeuse let out a pearl of laughter as the others looked at each other perplexed. "By Morgana, Potter. I heard you blew up your aunt," she commented fixing the boy with a steady look. She saw the smile quickly fade off his lips as he looked up at the older girl with a worried look. Harry watched confused as her rosy lips transformed into a wicked grin, "That was a coarsely but effective technique, Potter. Shame I was not there to witness the wonder of Harry Potter's wrath," She concluded with a firm nod. Harry laughed, looking around the group.
Betelgeuse saw Ginny go red and mutter a greeting without looking at Harry. Percy, however, held out his hand solemnly as though Harry and he had never met. "Harry. How nice to see you," he said.
"Hello, Percy," Harry replied, trying not to laugh.
"I hope you're well?" Percy added pompously, shaking hands. Betelgeuse nudged the twins, nodding to the older Weasley.
"Very well, thanks —"
"Harry!" Fred said, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply, "Simply splendid to see you, old boy —"
"Marvellous," George added, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. "Absolutely spiffing." Betelgeuse snorted, meeting the smiling eyes of Fred. Percy scowled.
"That's enough, now," Molly said.
"Mum!" Fred exclaimed, as though he'd only just spotted her and seizing her hand, too. "How really corking to see you —"
"I said, that's enough," Molly scowled, depositing her shopping bags in an empty chair. "Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?" She pointed to the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. "Second Head Boy in the family!" she said, swelling with pride.
"And last," Fred muttered under his breath. Betelgeuse patted his arm mockingly, "There, there, Freddie boy. Do not cry." Fred grinned broadly.
"I don't doubt that," Molly frowned suddenly. "I notice they haven't made you two prefects."
"What do we want to be prefects for?" George asked, looking revolted at the very idea. "It'd take all the fun out of life."
"Oh, shut up, you two," Betelgeuse protested. Ginny giggled.
"You want to set a better example for your sister!" Mrs Weasley snapped.
"Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother," Percy stated loftily. "I'm going up to change for dinner." He disappeared into the pub, and George heaved a sigh. Betelgeuse sent him a sympathetic look; she knew how much the twins loathed being compared to their more academic proficient older brothers.
"We tried to shut him in a pyramid," George informed Harry. "But Mum spotted us."
As Betelgeuse was about to follow the group of people inside the pub, the hair behind her neck rose. She had the distinct feeling of being watched. Someone had witnessed the scene concealed in the shadows. The girl swiftly turned around; a big black dog was peering out from around a corner. She met the all-too-human gaze of the big dog. What she saw disturbed her greatly; striking grey eyes were looking back at her, enlarged as if the dog was surprised to have been caught spying.
This is not a mere dog.
Taking advantage of the large dog's surprise, Betelgeuse tried to pry into his mind. The emotions of a dog are much simpler than those of a human. Its mental processes are far too elementary to be easily examined. As soon as the caress of her investigation touched the dog's subconscious, Betelgeuse saw the stray collect itself, look at her for one last time and then run away.
Betelgeuse stood still for a long moment, musing about the strange encounter. That was an Animagus, I am certain of it. But why a wizard would spy on us in disguise?
Her eyes widened. Potter.
☆☆☆
Dinner that night was a pleasant affair. Tom, the innkeeper, put three tables together in the parlour, and the seven Weasleys, Betelgeuse, Harry, and Hermione ate their way through five delectable courses.
"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" Fred asked as they dug into sumptuous chocolate custards.
"The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," Arthur replied. Everyone looked up at him. Betelgeuse raised her eyebrows, intrigued.
"Why?" Percy asked curiously.
"It's because of you, Perce," George said seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them—"
"— for Humongous Bighead," Fred added. Everyone except Percy and Mrs Weasley snorted into their pudding. Betelgeuse laughed out loud. She loved the twins.
"Why is the Ministry providing cars, Father?" Percy demanded again in a dignified voice.
"Well, as we haven't got one anymore," Arthur replied, sending a furtive glance to Harry, "and as I work there, they're doing me a favour."
Betelgeuse could not help noticing that Mr Wesley's ears had gone red, just like Fred's when he tried to lie or omit something to the Black.
What is he not saying?
☆☆☆
After supper, everyone felt very full and sleepy. One by one they made their way upstairs to their rooms to check their things for the next day. Betelgeuse followed Fred and George upstairs; the three looked suspiciously innocent as they passed Molly and Arthur.
Betelgeuse had just changed in her pyjama and she has been reading the Charms textbook on George's bed when she heard angry voices down the hall.
She looked over the twins, sharing a devious smirk.
The three waited some more minutes, then they creeped out of the room, crouching in the shadows on the landing. They were heaving with laughter as they listened to Percy dismantling his and Ron's room in search of his badge when Harry came back upstairs.
"We've got it," Fred whispered to Harry. "We've been improving it."
The badge now read Bighead Boy.
Betelgeuse studied the spectacled boy with her head tilted; she saw how he forced a laugh and did not meet her eyes, even once. She followed him with her eyes till he had shut himself in his room.
Something had occurred downstairs, something that I do not know about.
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